Persuasion vs Intimidation

In the US House of Representatives, Tom Delay is the Majority Leader. He's earned a nickname: "the Hammer," because of his 'take no prisoners' style of heavy-handed politics and knack for pounding money out of political-action committees (PAC's).

"Hardball" Here?

Extreme debate limits, one-sided statements, legal maneuvers to thwart criticism, potentially illegal acts by elected officials have been tools of power for some time in Washington, DC. What about our own Central Coast?

Community services districts (CSD's) are a very basic form of local government. Two CSD's, Cambria and Los Osos, appear willing to use whatever "tool" suits these elected officials in their pursuit of policy despite citizen opposition.

Consider the following:

Legal papers have been filed to compel testimony from two critics of the Cambria CSD.

A CCSD Board member compares this to "our government…investigating a terrorist."

The LOCSD locked the door of a public meeting, barring entrance to two of its own board members.

LOCSD Board members filed a request for a restraining order against citizen critic and businessman Richard Margetson who successfully used a SLAPP defense.

The SLAPP acronym comes from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. In other words, using a bogus legal maneuver to shut down criticism. Does this sound like good government in practice?

You would not know this kind of stuff was going on in SLO county if you only read the sporadic page 3 coverage in the Tribune. The weekly New Times tracks the Los Osos CSD problems because that's where the public is demonstrating. Cambria's water tank location and Nipomo subdivision construction limitations are not on either paper's media radar screen--yet.

Environment Concerns Create Pressure For Solutions

What's at stake are environmental and related conditions you need to inhabit the land--clean water, uncontaminated soil, clear air. Public comment and disagreements surround certain issues such as: construction of Cambria water tanks in an environmentally sensitive location, countering the effects of MTBE groundwater contamination in Los Osos and placing limits on subdivision construction in Nipomo.

Where To Find Better Leadership?

Similar environment, land development and other civic issues exist in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Yet there's no mention of any elected official swinging any "hammer" to avoid facing public opposition. Could it be a better brand of "leadership?"

(Something I should know? My email is: centralcoastnewsmission at gmail.com) Sphere: Related Content